TWO ICONS ON THE BIG SCREEN:
FERNET-BRANCA AND MARIA CALLAS IN THE NEW FILM “MARIA” BY PABLO LARRAÍN
The inimitable bitter of Casa Branca makes its cinematic debut in the biopic about the Divine, presented at the Venice Film Festival
August 2024 – Fernet-Branca, the iconic bitter of Fratelli Branca Distillerie, debuts in Venice in the film “Maria,” directed by the renowned Chilean director Pablo Larraín and premiering worldwide on August 29 at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.
The biopic, acclaimed and highly anticipated by the public, marks the return of actress Angelina Jolie to the big screen, playing the legendary soprano Maria Callas. Written by Steven Knight (Spencer, Peaky Blinders), and produced by Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, Juan de Dios Larraín for Fabula Pictures, and Jonas Dornbach for Komlizen Film, the film recounts the extraordinary and fascinating story of the greatest opera singer in the world, revisited and reimagined during her final days in 1970s Paris. A project that promises to be a success.
But what is the connection between Fernet-Branca and Maria Callas? According to some historical reconstructions, permeated by the myth of the Divine, Callas loved to enjoy a good glass of Branca bitter during her leisure moments, with friends and Onassis, both in Milan and during her tours, but especially before taking the stage.
A preparatory ritual, a remedy for the vocal cords, or a guilty pleasure, it is said that Callas used to drink a small glass of Fernet-Branca enriched with mint leaves before her performances. The mix would warm up her powerful voice and prepare her to enchant the audience. Legend also has it that this very habit led to the birth of another historic Branca product, Brancamenta.
Two icons facing each other, together on the big screen for the first time, ready to fascinate both enthusiasts and newcomers: the inimitable bitter, whose historical recipe has remained unchanged since 1845 and is still jealously guarded by the Branca family and passed down through generations, and Maria Callas, a diva and woman rich in personality and charm. And Brancamenta, born after Fernet-Branca and renowned worldwide for its refreshingly surprising formula enriched with the essential oil of Piedmont peppermint, the finest in the world.
“We are proud to be part of this extraordinary cinematic project,” says Niccolò Branca, CEO and President of Fratelli Branca Distillerie. “And to see our iconic bitter in such a unique story that celebrates the Divine in such a prestigious and high-profile context.”
The involvement of Fernet-Branca in the film “Maria” not only enriches the narrative but also underscores the cultural and historical influence of the Italian bitter, further consolidating its connection with our country, with the elegance and strength of tradition.
